The car ride to the department store was probably the most awkward length of time Rose and the Doctor had shared up until now. They were like nervous teenagers, stammering and tripping over their own words as they sought out topic after random topic to fill the silence. It was such a relief to them both when they arrived and a gentleman approached them as they began perusing suits.

"Good morning! My name is Geoffrey, may I be of any assistance to you today?"

"Yes, thank you Geoffrey. We're here for some suits and other things. My uh… friend, he just moved here and… lost his luggage, so he'll need to replace his entire wardrobe."

The Doctor glanced over at Rose, panic stricken. Entire wardrobe? Just how much clothes did she think he needed?

Geoffrey looked surprised as well, it wasn't every day a customer came in wanting to purchase that much clothes all at once, but he would not complain. After all, the commission off this sale would be substantial. Putting on a reassuring smile, he approached the man in the hideous blue suit (good thing he'd lost all his clothes if this was a good representation of what he normally wore! He'd have to fix that…) and replied, "Ah yes, of course. Not to worry, we'll get you sorted in no time Mr…?"

"Doctor, just call me Doctor."

Rose grinned; she enjoyed watching people's faces when they first tried to figure out what to call him. She remembered her own confusion when she had met him and had to suppress a giggle.

"Right, yes! Well then… Doctor, follow me if you please."

The next hour was a nightmare. As she had predicted, the Doctor was being just as difficult as she had thought he would be. Every suit Geoffrey brought him had a flaw: too boring, not enough pockets, too hard to run in (Geoffrey looked scandalized at that comment, but quickly recovered), the color was all wrong, etc. Rose wanted to strangle him, this was worse than shopping with her mum!

Finally, they agreed on three after Geoffrey assured the Doctor that they could be custom tailored to fit him like his blue suit. One was brown with white pinstripes, another was charcoal with light blue pinstripes, and the last was a dark olive with grey pinstripes. The Doctor was also opposed to wearing collared shirts and ties with them, preferring matching t-shirts underneath like what he was currently sporting. Despite Geoffrey's best attempts, bringing him an array of colorful shirts and matching ties, the Doctor would not budge.

Rose decided to step in. Taking the light blue shirt and complementary swirly tie from Geoffrey's hands, she approached the Doctor and unbuttoning his charcoal suit coat placed it underneath. The Doctor stood absolutely still, eyes on Rose as she stood back a bit and looked him up and down, slowly, a slight grin on her face.

"You know, you look really great in this Doctor." Slipping the tie around his neck she gave it a gentle tug downwards bringing his face closer to hers. "I've always loved your ties."

The Doctor swallowed and blinked rapidly a few times. Turning to Geoffrey, he cleared his throat and said, "Right. Well then, you heard the lady Geoffrey… we'll take those too!"

Rose winked at Geoffrey and sat back down, tongue poking out between her teeth as she flashed the Doctor his favorite smile. He huffed inwardly. Apparently she could probably get him to wear a clown suit for her if she asked that way.

They then picked out several pairs of coordinating trainers to match his new suits, and Rose insisted they look at some casual clothes as well. After that rather impressive show of her powers of persuasion the Doctor saw little point in trying to object. While Geoffrey took care of putting in the measurements for his suit alterations and gathered up some matching belts to complete his outfits, Rose took the Doctor by the hand and dragged him over to another part of men's clothing.

This was going to be fun for Rose, as she had often wondered what he would look like dressed as a normal bloke. She loved his suits, but had a feeling he would look absolutely stunning in a pair of jeans and a slim fitting jumper or perhaps some t-shirts and casual button downs.

She was right.

The Doctor felt like a doll caught in the middle of a little girl's dress-up game. He didn't complain however, as he came out of the dressing room for the eighth time to those looks Rose kept giving him. He had always considered this particular body to be quite dapper, but that little bit of Donna's insecure personality kept intruding. Being on the receiving end of Rose's coy smiles and compliments certainly stroked his ego. He could do this all day if it meant her looking at him that way. A memory flashed through his mind, the time when Lady Cassandra had taken over his body. "You've been looking…" she had said to Rose with his lips. "… and you like it." Yes, indeed. Rose's expressions confirmed that statement was as true now as it had ever been. Perhaps shopping wasn't as bad as he had made it out to be, he thought to himself with a smirk as he began to change into his blue suit again.

When he emerged from the dressing room, Rose was handing over the outfits they had agreed on to Geoffrey, who took them over to the counter and then returned promptly. "If you'll follow me Doctor, we just need to pick out a few more things and then I believe you will be ready." As he began to follow him, the Doctor realized Rose was not by his side. Turning back he called out to her.

"Rose, aren't you coming to help me pick out whatever else it is Geoffrey is showing me?"

Rose let out a nervous laugh. "Uh… no Doctor, I think you can handle that on your own. I'll just um… well, I need to go pick up something for Tony, actually! I promised mum I'd do that for her since we'd be here. Save her a trip, you know?"

Confused, the Doctor just nodded and turned back to Geoffrey who was surveying them with an amused look on his face. A few more paces and he turned back to face his customer. "So, Doctor, what would you prefer- boxers or briefs?"

A little while later, Rose met back up with the Doctor just as Geoffrey was bagging up the last of his things. It had never occurred to him how all this would be paid for, so when Rose handed over a credit card, he scowled. The total was astronomical.

"Rose… I – you shouldn't have to pay for this. I'm sorry, I didn't think… I mean, I don't normally have to worry about…" The Doctor could feel his face growing incredibly warm. He tried to vasoconstrict his facial vessels but to no avail, his face continued to flush and his scowl deepened.

Smiling up at him, Rose waved it off. "It's fine Doctor, really. Don't worry about it."

Shaking his head, his voice grew more insistent. "No Rose, it's not fine. This is too much. I don't really need all this clothing! I've got my sonic, remember? You really shouldn't-"

Rose grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the counter, as Geoffrey looked up at the sound of the Doctor's rising voice. "Doctor, please. Let me do this, yeah? You gave me free room and board plus that entire wardrobe, plus food, plus all those amazing adventures for how long? This is nothing. I'm the daughter of a multi-millionaire now, remember?" She grinned up at him, tongue poking out between her teeth.

"Yes Rose, but this is diff-"

"No, it's not. Now please, don't make a scene Doctor." Her smile vanished and was replaced by the cautioning frown he knew well. It was the Tyler glare both she and Jackie used so aptly that everyone learned to heed it quite quickly.

Letting out a great big huff of air, the Doctor acquiesced. Rose grinned and reached up on her tip toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. She quickly turned back to Geoffrey who returned her card and handed her the receipts. After thanking him for his help, Rose and the Doctor walked back to the car, each weighed down with several bags in each hand.

Before heading to her flat, Rose suggested they stop by the chemist to pick up toiletries and such. Surprisingly, for a man that hated shopping, he sure did spend a lot of time on his hair products.

"What?" asked a slightly offended Doctor when Rose crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Nothing works on my hair as well as Yeldian balm and we don't have access to that here! I'm sorry Rose, but how else am I supposed to pick a product without trying it first?"

Rose thought they were going to get kicked out when he had started sampling each product on sections of his hair. She finally convinced him to get them all, telling him that he could play with them when they got home.

"Will you help me?" he asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Sure Doctor, whatever you want, let's just go." she replied in exasperation. Thirty minutes and several types of gels and mousse later, they had finally resumed their trip.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at the building Rose's flat was in. As they approached the front entrance, a gentleman in a grey suit opened the door and welcomed them. "Good afternoon Ms. Tyler!"

Rose smiled. "Hello Frank, it's lovely to see you again. How is your wife?"

Frank followed them in, opening yet another door that led to the lobby, which had access to a pretty outdoor area over to one side. Taking some of Roses bags, Frank glanced back at the other doorman who took over his post.

"She's much better, thank you Ms. Tyler!" Smiling he looked over at the Doctor and bowed his head slightly, "Good day to you too, sir."

"Oh Frank, this is the Doctor! He will be staying with me so I'll need a key sent up for him, if you will?"

"Yes, of course ma'am. I'll have one ready for you shortly." replied the doorman as they stepped into the lift. The Doctor watched as Frank pushed the button that would take them to the top floor. A few seconds later, they stepped off and after rounding a corner arrived at Rose's door. After opening it, she thanked Frank for his help and took the bags from him. He bid them a farewell and left, promising to return with the key in a little while.

The Doctor followed her in and stopped, looking around. The entryway opened up to a spacious front room with a staircase which led up to a loft over on the right. Directly below the loft, the room was comfortably furnished with a big cushy looking couch, a matching armchair, and a fireplace. There were a few side tables as well, and a bookshelf with various picture frames and knickknacks amongst the books. The wall directly in front of him was glass from top to bottom through which a spacious balcony could be seen, a patio door on one end.

Rose looked over her shoulder at the Doctor and beckoned for him to follow. "I'll give you the tour in just a bit Doctor. Let's just put all your stuff in your room first, ok?" She started walking down a hallway to the left and he followed.

Passing a combined kitchen and dining room on his left, and a few other doors which were closed, they stopped in front of the last one on the right. Rose opened it, flipped on the light and walked in. It was a medium sized room with a bed, a dresser, and a desk in the corner. It looked unused but quite comfortable. Rose put her bags on the bed and turned around.

"This is just a spare room I had done up for whenever Mickey or Jake would spend the night. Sometimes we'd order in and stay up late working on projects for work or they would crash here after a night at the pub… There's a closet here and the loo is through there." Rose shifted on her feet, looking a bit uncertain. "Is… is this going to be ok for you?"

Approaching her and putting his bags down as well, the Doctor looked around and smiled. "Of course, Rose. This is perfect, thank you." It was not his room on the TARDIS, but it would be fine for now. Taking her hand he interlocked his fingers with hers and grinned, "Now, what were you were saying about a tour?"

Rose's uncertainty seemed to vanish and with a smile she nodded, "Right, yes, let me show you around!"

Across the hall was her room, which she merely pointed at, not opening the door. He wondered if it was as messy as it had been aboard the TARDIS... It probably was. Next she showed him the study, the room next to his. It had another desk and a few bookshelves as well. Maps and random open books littered the floor, desk, and practically every flat surface of the room. Rose smiled apologetically, promising to tidy up so he could use it as well.

Approaching the front room again, she took a right and led him into a small kitchen and dining room. Not nearly as small as the kitchenette she had grown up with in the Powell Estates, but certainly not quite as grand as the one at the Tyler residence either. Rose didn't cook much anyway, so she wasn't fussed.

"I guess we'll need to go to the grocer's… I never really kept this place too well stocked. Didn't know if I'd be coming back once I started jumping with the cannon." She wandered over to the fridge and opened it up, pulling out a carton of milk and sniffing it. Screwing up her face and dumping it down the drain, Rose shrugged her shoulders. "Right, well then… we'll just swing by on the way home from mum's after dinner tonight. Is that ok?"

The Doctor nodded mutely. While the flat was nice, he got the impression that she never really viewed it as a permanent home and it saddened him, knowing what that must have felt like… refusing to put down roots because of a hope still kept alive. The hope of finding him again and never having to come back.

Brushing past him without meeting his gaze, Rose continued. "There's one more room to show you. Come on, I think you'll like it!"

Following her back out towards the front room, he saw she was climbing the stairs up to the loft. He climbed up after her and saw a room much like the one downstairs only with a big flat screen TV on one wall, an entertainment center beneath, filled with movies. Another couch sat facing the TV except it was almost the size of a bed and roundish, several cushions splayed out haphazardly along its curved back.

Plopping herself onto it, she patted a space next to her. He sat down, a confused smile on his face. It was a nice room, but it still didn't explain her excitement.

"Look up, Doctor."

Doing so his gaze was met with a white dome shaped ceiling. A sudden noise made him jump and he looked back at Rose, who had leaned back on her elbows against the cushions, half laying down now, and still grinning. Looking back up, he realized the ceiling was opening to reveal the blue sky above, soft wispy clouds lazily floating on by.

"Rose! It's like the base on Krop Tor. How did you find…"

"I didn't. I told mum and Pete about it once and they surprised me one day, a few months after moving in. They asked me to stay at the house for a week, caring for Tony while they went on holiday. When I got back it was done!" her excitement faded as her voice grew soft. "I liked to come up here in the evenings to watch the stars… it- it helped me feel closer to you."

The Doctor closed his eyes for a moment, head still tilted back. He was suddenly overcome with the urge to gather Rose up in his arms and kiss her endlessly. He wouldn't let her go ever again, so she would never have to feel that loneliness… he could still hear it in her voice.

Lowering himself down on the couch, he turned on his side, facing her. She turned her face towards him as well, a soft smile having already replaced the excited grin. Reaching out and gently brushing her cheek with his fingertips, the Doctor stared silently at her, not trusting himself to speak.

"I thought you might like it too… at night I mean, when the stars are out. I know this will be hard for you, not having the TARDIS for a while, being stuck here… living a normal human life day in and day out. You never were one for domestics."

"Yeah well, at least you don't have carpets."

Rose threw her head back and laughed, remembering his objection to doors and carpets when they had discussed sharing a mortgage.

The Doctor smiled. "But you know what Rose?"

"What, Doctor?"

Scooting closer, he propped himself up on his elbow. "Stuck with you, that's not so bad…"

Rose recalled how this conversation had gone oh so long ago, under the dome on that impossible planet. She had been doing the reassuring then. She bit her lower lip as she echoed his words, "Yeah?"

The Doctor leaned forward slowly. Just as his lips were about to brush hers, he smiled and whispered, "Yes."

As with their last kiss, he approached this one cautiously, not wanting to push her. His lips moved slowly, gently over hers, taking their time. His hand came up to cup the side of her face, softly tracing circles on her cheek. She smiled against his lips and then, quite suddenly, he felt one of Rose's hands in his hair, pulling him closer, her lips becoming insistent. Tugging on his bottom lip, Rose's kisses grew more urgent and the Doctor surprised himself as he let out a soft groan. His hand trailed down to her waist and she leaned into it, pushing him onto his back and following his body with hers. Hands roaming, she began unbuttoning his suit jacket.

The sound of the doorbell caused them to hastily pull back, wide eyed and a little out of breathe. Rose jumped up and turned away, hand on her forehead, tears beginning to sting her eyes. What was she doing?!

"Rose?" The Doctor sat up, his single heart pounding.

The doorbell rang again.

"I- the door. It's probably Frank, I better-"her voice shook.

The Doctor's stomach sank.

"No, stay here… I'll get it."

Hurrying down the stairs, the Doctor tried to rearrange his features and calm his breathing. Opening the door, he smiled at the doorman and thanked him for his help, taking the new key from him. He closed the door and set the key down on a shelf then rubbed a hand over his face.

Taking a deep breath, he went back up to the loft. Rose was sitting down, nervously picking at her nails. Approaching slowly, the Doctor sat beside her, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably.

"Rose… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Face still a bit red, she shook her head and laughed softly.

"Don't apologize Doctor. I just… it's not that… I don't even know what I'm trying to say."

"It's only been two days, Rose, it's fi-."

Standing up, she ran her hands through her hair. "That's just it though, it's been two days and I was about to rip your clothes off while he's still out there somewhere."

The Doctor just stared, not quite knowing what to say to that very candid outburst. But then a slow frustration began to rise within him. It had only been two days, yes, but why did he have the distinct feeling that they could quite possibly still be having this conversation two years from now if he stood idly by? Rose Tyler could be very stubborn, and when it came to him she had proved that time and space did absolutely nothing to diminish her feelings.

"Yes Rose, he's still out there and will continue to be for a long, long time. But I'm here, and we've only got this one life together… I know you need time to adjust to this and that's fine, but please, don't take so long that we have nothing left to enjoy."

Standing up, he placed a quick kiss on her temple and then turned away, retreating back downstairs to give her some space.

Rose watched him go, guilt warring with anger, not wanting to admit that he just might be right.